Feb 2015 KL without Maps and Manuals

Or Technology in Education

KL Without Maps & Manuals

Three things about KL drove us to distraction when we moved here 18 months ago – taxis, the road system, and the inability to go to one Mall and get everything on that day’s shopping list. Taxis seemed to be everywhere, but either impossible to flag down, or their drivers were too busy smoking to leave their ranks; no map or SatNav seemed able to help us navigate the sense-of-direction-destroying road system; and no Mall, however grandly named, had for example, both white school trainers and sun hats.

Our frustrations were compounded by friends who’d been here for a while smiling and saying “Yeah it’s mad, but it’ll come in time“! So, after several hour-long drives from Mont Kiara to Bangsar, numerous soakings / scorchings trying to flag taxis, and tramping round Malls in the World’s 5th best shopping city, we began to wonder if we were ever going to acquire the elusive, easy-going expat life experience we saw others living.

Then another KL rookie, Big Pete, solved the taxi and road system problems and our lives were transformed. By technology. Technology, like the kids use. Technology, the one word in the context of education guaranteed to raise hackles and strike fear into parents and teachers alike the world over! It’s not the kids that are terrified of technology in education, they love it, it’s us grown ups. Recent research into how the brain learns helps us understand some of the reasons for this great divide. By way of explanation, let me share what happened when my “ten-ager”, Tas, and his Dad went about setting up his new Alienware game machine this Christmas…

Seven minutes in.

“Have you read the manual?” (Dad)

Sixteen…

“Read the manual!” (Dad)

“Manual?” (Tas)

“This thick book that came with your computer.” (Dad)

“That? I don’t need it!” (Tas)

Forty eight…

“Hah! Got it.” (Tas)

A manual! Too funny.

Tas, born in the 21st century, instinctively adopted the brain’s preferred method of learning; “real-life, immersion-style, multi-path learning” (Jensen 2008), trial and error to you and me, in the same way as he did when he learned to walk, talk, and unwrap a lollipop. And he augmented this approach with the tools he’s grown up with; Google, Skype, YouTube, etc. Importantly though, Tas didn’t identify the Alienware as ‘technology’ like his Dad did, it was just something new to be explored. But it is this disconnect in teachers and parents minds, in our minds, between technology, the classroom and normal life that seems to engender fear. We were not brought up with it. We still regard it as new, a hurdle in our adult lives, so we retreat to our comfort zone – the manual or a map! We subconsciously ignore the natural learning process we see happening before our very own eyes, as we know by experience that “error” is a toxic word which we associate with failure. If we hit the wrong key we might just wipe the entire hard drive! But of course that doesn’t happen.

Ironically, it is one of the qualities we adults value so highly, experience, which stops us from learning and loving new things in the way our brains actually prefer. We are talking here about technology, but it applies to learning anything new – languages, musical instruments, yoga, anything. Our experience, and resistance to change conspires against us. We are creatures of habit, and we not only ignore what we can see with our own eyes but subconsciously class it as a threat which motivates us to actively defend ourselves against it. I saw this defensiveness first hand with my education blog where the briefest mention of the fantastic way we use technology at our school set off a flurry of comments including one referencing Heinrich Pestalozzi, an educational reformist whose theories were developed 170 years ago, before technology ever existed!

So how do the taxi and SatNav apps (MyTeksi and Waze) that transformed our lives in KL, tie into all this brain learning and fear of technology? Well, they show how we adults can break out of our comfort zones and learn like kids. We’ll learn new things if we need to. And current research is suggesting that adult learning is accelerated when we face change, and are immersed in new exciting environments. This means as expats, we have a huge advantage as travel really does broaden our minds as we move from old comfortable country to new, exciting country. So, no wonder my husband no longer gets soaked hailing taxis, now drives multiple routes between Mont Kiara and Bangsar, and is a complete yoga convert.

Comments On My Blog

Sues congratulations on another year full of inspiring observations and efforts. Your mushrooms are very lucky indeed. Keep on keeping on!...

A beautifully written piece and one that I can relate to. I particularly like the Mushroom field/farmer analogy. You clearly know how to motivate people to achieve success. Good on you!...

Great blog and great advice! Take some time out and make sure you have those holidays booked!!...

I really enjoyed the bit about Sir David Brailsfod....

Wow!Excellent!Did that take all summer to write?????...

Mushrooms - cover them in s*** and keep them in the dark???...

An inspiration to newbies! I totally agree with comments below and believe the leadership and culture advice applies across all disciplines....

Really interesting to non-educationalists too Sues (and love that Pat Lencioni gets a mention). I’ve got some interesting stuff on culture by Cameron and Quinn that I’ll share by email....

An interesting and reflective piece. I agree about the importance of "culture" and how long its roots are - very difficult to quantify but immensely influential on pretty much everything that happens ...

Thank you so much for posting such an informative blog. It has been helpful in updating my resume and cover letter for my Special Education job search abroad....

Hey! I loved the blog on recuritment. Hope you are well and enjoying your summer....

Thanks Carol! I think what we always have to remember to do is ask our kids for feedback. Ask them what they enjoyed, learned, preferred. And ask them what they would do differently next time to enj...

Interesting reflection, Susan. Always good to hear what you're thinking. Absolutely agree about the fact that kids are more similar than different - I see that every day too, in secondary - the challe...

Thanks Pete!...

Really enjoyed reading your blog. Very honest and insightful self reflection, always enjoyed listening to you speak. I'm sure you are making a positive impact on your new school. Look forward to rea...

As always thoroughly insightful, reflective and brutally honest. This is why I enjoyed so much working and learning with you. Glad to read that you are well! Take care Jose...

Thanks for your positive words Etienne. And don't sell yourself short, you have always been reflective in your practice! Susan...

Thank you for this Susan. Truly inspiring how you always put learning at the centre of everything you do. I wish to be half as reflective as you are. I will share this post with Katy, our new Assistan...

Thank you Christine!...

Thank you Sarah. So glad it resonated with you too....

Thanks Jus. I am so glad it resonated with you, but not surprised. We should talk about a guest blog from the parent view about how together, parents and schools can better support kids too?...

Dear Sues, This is a thought-provoking and inspiring read which I thoroughly enjoyed! The following part resonated with me: Our students get one shot in our care....We just can’t afford to ge...

Love it! Good on you for challenging yourself beyond expectation, for inspiring others, and never losing sight of why we wanted to teach in the first place....

Love it! ONE shot indeed and if not taken, we miss 100% of it. Looking forward to reading more about your journey, Susan - a written sounding board....

Love this and not just cos I'm in the picture! I do relate to Tobys comment - something about enduring the pain of hard work before the pleasure of success kicks in - or is that just me admitting maso...

Gary, I agree. I wonder perhaps, that many of the conversations around setting SMART targets are just not handled well. It is easy to present someone with a target, but where is the buy in? Commit...

Thanks Jane - I am already looking forward to the next chapter. Lots on the horizon!...

What about a future blog just focussed on compassionately ruthless in the meantime...

I am a learner... And I'm developing my ability to be compassionately ruthless! Great read....

What a learning journey and all in the space of two years. Enjoy the next chapter Susan - look forward to reading about it. Jane...